KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Grant Awarded to Mendota Institute

Grant Awarded to Mendota Institute

By Winston Whitehurst

Two businesses stepped in to help out-of-work residents in Mendota.

Gill Ranch Storage and PG&E awarded the Westside Institute of Technology with a check for $36,200.

That money will be used to teach electrical skills to unemployed, or underemployed farmworkers, so they can qualify for work in the construction industry.

Originally, the two businesses planned on delivering food to the community, but they realized this plan would have a bigger impact.

Charles Stinson, of Gill Ranch Storage, hopes other businesses will follow their example.

"Other companies may see that and think that's a good idea, and sort of step up and also do the same thing, so part of my hope is this ends up being kind of money that the Westside Institute of Technology can use, and encourage some other companies to do the same sort of thing," Stinson says.

The donation will help re–train 60 students in the construction field.